Craig Y Nos Castle

The castle looms out of the Brecon Beacons landscape like something from a Victorian fever dream - all turrets and Gothic stonework perched on a hillside that commands proper views across the valleys. Craig Y Nos was built in the 1840s by a Welsh industrialist and later became home to the celebrated opera singer Adelina Patti, who left her mark all over the place. You can wander the grounds and peek at the exterior, though access to the interior varies depending on current ownership and events.

It's absolutely worth the detour if you're camping at Brecon Beacons Camping & Caravan Park - barely a mile away - or staying at one of the glamping spots like Four Falls or Aber. The walk up to the castle takes twenty minutes or so and the views alone justify the effort. History enthusiasts will get a real kick out of the Victorian architecture and Patti's connection to the place; walkers get a cracking vantage point over the Beacons themselves.

Bring decent boots - the approach can be muddy and the slope is no joke. The best light for photographs hits mid-afternoon when the sun's behind you. Don't expect to spend hours here unless there's something specific on - it's more a landmark to incorporate into a wider walk than a destination in itself. Still, standing in front of that castle, you understand why someone wanted to build something so ambitious in this wild corner of Wales.